Archive | June 2020

The Green Dress by Liz Tolsma

Jun30

Fascinating Yet Horrifying

The Green Dress by Liz Tolsma is a totally gripping Christian historical crime suspense and part of the True Colors series. It can be read as a stand-alone.

Liz Tolsma has taken a true life crime and woven her story around the facts. It is both mesmerising and horrifying as the reader knows that all that happens is true.

Crimes are committed. At first it seems like bad luck but as the body count rises so does the suspicion.

The characters are all well drawn. The young children’s mannerisms and innocence were perfectly captured. The leading lady has a kind heart, looking out for the innocent. She struggles with the concept of a good Father as her earthly father let her down. “Why did God have to do this to her?” God does not ‘let’ anything happen, it is man’s free will and His Holy Spirit grieves.

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Gracie Fairshaw And The Mysterious Guest by Susan Brownrigg

Jun27

Exciting

Gracie Fairshaw And The Mysterious Guest by Susan Brownrigg is an exciting children’s historical mystery. It is just perfect for ages eight and above. Those considerably older like me will love it too.

The novel is set in Blackpool in 1935. It is at the height of seaside holidays and day trips. Blackpool drew people in from all over. My Dad and his family who lived in Birmingham had holidays in Blackpool in the 1930’s and 1940’s. The book awakens an era long gone and a feeling of nostalgia in the reader for simpler times.

I enjoyed the descriptions of Blackpool, particularly the Pleasure Beach and Fun House as my Dad took us on a day trip there in 1975. I ‘walked’ through the action, fully participating rather than just reading a book, as I was familiar with the locations.

The book was an exciting read. I became caught up in events, along with the children, as I too, tried to solve the mystery.

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The Wives by Tarryn Fisher

Jun25

Where Is The Truth?

The Wives by Tarryn Fisher is a marvellous contemporary psychological suspense that I read in just one sitting. It was rather a creepy read that totally consumed me.

There is the question of what is real and what is imagined? Who is telling the truth? And who is lying?

Tarryn Fisher has a very cleverly constructed and unique plotline. She manipulated my emotions as the action took over my life.

The tale is written in the first person strengthening the reader’s involvement. I read with baited breath and head spinning as I tried to distinguish the truth from the lies. I had to work out where I could put my trust.

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Cut To The Bone by Roz Watkins

Jun24

Gripping And Absorbing

Cut To The Bone by Roz Watkins is an all-consuming contemporary crime suspense. It is part of the D.I. Meg Dalton series but can be read as a stand-alone. I loved my return to the Peak District to catch up with Meg Dalton as she fights crime.

Roz Watkins has an amazingly vivid imagination. Her plotline was fabulous – intricate and well thought out. I hung on for a roller coaster suspense as I failed, once again, to predict the outcome.

The characters were all well drawn. I love the leading lady, Meg Dalton. She is a perfect mixture of brains, reasoning, and strength of character with an Achilles heel that makes her so easy to relate to. She has compassion but is tough when she needs to be.

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